Kut Barrage

It is {{convert|516|m|ft}} long, {{convert|10.5|m|ft}} high, and consists of 56 gates, each {{convert|6|m|ft}} wide. The maximum discharge of the barrage is {{convert|6000|m3|cuyd}}, but actual discharge has not exceeded {{convert|2000|m3|cuyd}} in the last 10 years. The barrage supports a road and includes a lock for boats passing up and down the Tigris.{{Cite book |author=Iraqi Ministries of Environment, Water Resources and Municipalities and Public Works |chapter=Annex III: Main water control structures (dams and water diversions) and reservoirs |title=New Eden Master Plan for integrated water resources management in the marshlands areas |publisher=New Eden Group |year=2006 }}{{cite book|last=Sayigh|first=Yusif Abdalla|title=The economies of the Arab world: development since 1945|publisher=Taylor & Francis|page=[https://archive.org/details/economiesofarabw0002sayi/page/30 30]|location=London|year=1978|isbn=978-0-85664-474-0|url=https://archive.org/details/economiesofarabw0002sayi/page/30|author-link=Yusif Sayigh}}

Its purpose is to maintain a sufficiently high water level in the Tigris to provide water for the Gharraf irrigation canal, which branches off the Tigris just upstream from the Kut Barrage. Before the construction of the Kut Barrage, the Gharraf canal only received water during periods of flood in the Tigris. The water level in the canal is maintained by the Gharraf Head Regulator, which was constructed at the same time as the Kut Barrage.{{cite journal|year=1939|title=The Kut Barrage Irrigation Scheme|journal=Nature|volume=143|pages=18–19|doi=10.1038/143018c0|issue=3610|bibcode=1939Natur.143S..18. |doi-access=free}}

The Kut Barrage was constructed between 1934 and 1939 by the British firm Balfour Beatty.Ruth Slavid, Balfour Beatty’s 75 years, Construction News Magazine, June 1984. Construction of the barrage was carried out by 2,500 Arab and Kurdish workers, and involved the removal of {{convert|1223288|m3|cuyd}} of ground. For the barrage itself {{convert|191139|m3|cuyd}} of concrete was used. A major flood in the Tigris in 1936 caused the building site to be flooded entirely, and led to the temporary standstill of the construction works.

In 1952, {{convert|26440|ha|acre}} were irrigated from water provided by the Gharraf Canal. Of this newly reclaimed land, {{convert|14080|ha|acre}} was distributed to small farmers as part of a social land reform program. These farmers received {{convert|10|ha|acre}} per family and were required to live on the land they farmed.{{cite journal|last=de Vaumas|first=Étienne|year=1952|title=Les grands travaux des irrigation en Irak|journal=Annales de Géographie|volume=61|issue=328|pages=473–474|language=French|url=http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/geo_0003-4010_1952_num_61_328_14022}}{{cite journal|doi=10.2307/141972|last=Fisk|first=Brad|year=1952|title=Dujaila: Iraq's pilot project for land settlement|journal=Economic Geography|volume=28|issue=4|pages=343–354|jstor=141972}}

In 2005, repairs and maintenance works were carried out at the Kut Barrage and the Gharraf Head Regulator for a total cost of US$3 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.mowr.gov.iq/english/Projects2005.htm |title=Ministry Projects |publisher=Ministry of Water Resources |accessdate=30 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604082237/http://www.mowr.gov.iq/english/Projects2005.htm |archivedate=June 4, 2009 }}

File:2019-03-28 Kut barrage Wassit Iraq Tigris.jpg

File:2019-03-28 Kut barrage dam mechanism.jpg

File:2019-03-28 Kut barrage dam lock.jpg

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{{Commons category}}

{{Tigris}}

{{Tigris dams}}

Category:Tigris River

Category:Dams in Iraq

Category:Wasit Governorate

Category:Dams completed in 1939

Category:Dams on the Tigris River

Category:1939 establishments in Iraq

Barrage